Gloria Blizzard and Jesse Ryan talk on saving calypso; fiftieth anniversary reprise of the Frog Bog sound walk (bet no-one's said that before!); Gregory Oh on the necessity of failure and curatorial choices that break down barriers; fanfares for an uncommon man at the RCM; and festivals galore in our 20th annual summer green pages; plus a summer's worth of music in our listening room. All this and more!
Poetry Jazz Café 1078
Poetry Jazz Café 1078 Queen St W. 416-599-5299 poetryjazzcafe.com A sexy, clubby space, Poetry hosts live jazz, hip-hop, and DJs nightly on Queen St. West. Reposado Bar & Lounge 136 Ossington Ave. 416-532-6474 reposadobar.com A chic, low-light bar with top-shelf tequila, Mexican tapas, and live music. Reservoir Lounge, The 52 Wellington St. E. 416-955-0887 reservoirlounge.com Toronto’s self-professed original swingjazz bar and restaurant, located in a historic speakeasy near St. Lawrence Market, with MAINLY CLUBS live music four nights a week. Rev, La 2848 Dundas St. W. 416-766-0746 larev.ca La Rev offers their guests and authentic taste of comida casera (Mexican homestyle cooking), and a welcoming performance space featuring some of Toronto’s most talented musicians. Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar, The 194 Queen St. W. 416-598-2475 therex.ca With over 60 shows per month of Canadian and international groups, The Rex is Toronto’s longest-running jazz club, with full bar and kitchen menu. Sauce on Danforth 1376 Danforth Ave. 647-748-1376 sauceondanforth.com With Victorian lighting, cocktails, and an extensive tap and bottle list, Sauce on Danforth has live music Tuesday through Saturday (and sometimes Sunday). The Senator Winebar 249 Victoria St 416 364-7517 thesenator.com An intimate, upscale French-inspired bistro with live music serving hearty, delicious comfort food alongside a curated selection of wine and cocktails. Smokeshow BBQ and Brew 744 Mt. Pleasant Rd 416-901-7469 Smokeshowbbqandbrew.com A laid-back venue with an emphasis on barbecue and beer, Smokeshow hosts cover artists and original music Thursday through Sunday, with Bachata lessons on Tuesdays and Karaoke on Wednesdays. Tapestry 224 Augusta Ave. In the space formerly occupied by Poetry, Tapestry features jazz, electronic music, soul, and more. Tranzac 292 Brunswick Ave. 416-923-8137 tranzac.org A community arts venue dedicated to supporting, presenting, and promoting creative and cultural activity in Toronto, with live shows in multiple rooms every day of the week. UNDATED EVENTS & ETCETERAS FALL FESTIVALS ● Chinese Canadian Cultural Centre. Toronto International Music Festival. Registration open now until Sep 20, 2024. Festival runs Oct 20-Nov 4. Gala and Concert Awards Ceremony Dec 8, 2024. Visit www.cccctimf. org for details. LIVE REHEARSAL & PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES ● A New Quartet is an emerging Toronto area ensemble that rehearses traditional repertoire and writes new music. The quartet is currently seeking saxophone players and composers. For details please visit www. anewquartet.net. ● The Choralairs is a non-audition, adult choir that welcomes new members in September and January. Rehearsals are on Tuesday 6:45-8-45pm at Edithvale C.C. 131 Finch Ave. W, Toronto. Please contact Elaine at choralairs.delighted.720@silomails.com to RSVP. Check out our new website at www. Choralairs.com. A vacation for your dog! Barker Avenue Boarding in East York call or text 416-574-5250 ● Etobicoke Community Concert Band. Full rehearsals every Wednesday night at 7:30pm. 309 Horner Ave. Open to all who are looking for a great band to join. Text Rob Hunter at 416-878-1730. ● Harmony Singers of Etobicoke. The women of The Harmony Singers survived COVID and are regrouping for 2024! If you’d like to sing an exciting repertoire of pop, jazz, folk and light classics, the group will give you a warm welcome! Rehearsals start in January on Wednesday nights from 7:15 to 9:30 p.m. at Richview United Church in Etobicoke. Contact Conductor Harvey Patterson at: theharmonysingers@ca.com or call 416-239-5821. ● New Horizons Band of Toronto. All levels from beginners to advanced for brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. Weekly classes led by professional music teachers. Loaner instrument provided to each new registrant in the beginners’ program. Visit www.newhorizonsbandtoronto.ca. BUSINESS CLASSIFIEDS Economical and visible! Promote your services & products to our musically engaged readers, in print and on-line. BOOKING DEADLINE: TUESDAY AUGUST 13 classad@thewholenote.com ● North Toronto Community Band. Openings for drums, clarinets, trumpets, trombones, French horns. Rehearsals held at Willowdale Presbyterian Church 38 Ellerslie Ave. (just north of Mel Lastman Square). Monday evenings 7:30- 9:30 pm. Contact ntcband@gmail.com. ● String Orchestra TO is a new string orchestra in Toronto for amateur intermediate and advanced string players. No auditions. Our season runs from Sep 11, 2024 to May 28, 2025. Wed rehearsals: 7:15-9:15 pm at St. Barnabas Church, 361 Danforth Ave.. Visit www.sites.google.com/view/stringorchestrato/home or email us at StringOrchestraTO@gmail.com. ● Strings Attached Orchestra, North York. All string players (especially viola, cello, bass) are welcome. Mondays 7 to 9 p.m. from Sep to Jun. Email us first at info.stringsattached@gmail.com to receive music and other details or visit our website at www. Jubilate singers isabel Bernaus conductor stringsattachedorchestra.com for more information. ● Toronto Shape Note Singers. Sacred Harp Singing. Shape note selections from the Sacred Harp tunebook.Singing is participatory, not a performance. No experience necessary. All are welcome and there are DO YOU DRIVE? Do you love The WholeNote? Share the love and earn a little money! Join our circulation team, and deliver 6 times a year. Currently seeking circulation associates for the GTA. Interested? Contact: circulation@thewholenote.com Come sing with us! Our friendly, inclusive chamber choir performs exciting choral music from around the world. openings in all sections info@jubilatesingers.ca www.jubilatesingers.ca w st. la 15% off your 1st clean If you can read this, thank a music teacher. MosePianoForAll.com 54 | June, July & August2024 thewholenote.com
ooks to borrow. Monthly on the third Wednesday from Feb 21 to Dec 8, 2024. Friends House, 60 Lowther Ave. 647-838-8764. Pay what you can. ONGOING EVENTS ● Trinity College, University of Toronto. Evensong. Traditional Anglican choral music. Trinity College Chapel Choir; Thomas Bell, director of music; Peter Bayer, organ scholar. Trinity College Chapel, University of Toronto, 6 Hoskin Ave. 416-978-2522 or Trinity College. Free. Evensong is sung every Wednesday at 5:15pm in the beautiful Trinity College chapel during term time. ● Encore Symphonic Concert Band. Monthly Concert Band Concert. The first Thursday of every month at 11am. 35-piece concert band performing band concert music, pop tunes, jazz standards (2 singers) and the occasional march. Trinity Presbyterian Church York Mills, 2737 Bayview Ave. www.encoreband.ca. . ONLINE EVENTS ● Arts@Home. A vibrant hub connecting Torontonians to arts and culture. Designed to strengthen personal and societal resilience through the arts. www.artsathome.ca. ● North Toronto Community Band. Openings for clarinet, trumpet, trombone, tuba and auxiliary percussion. Rehearsals held at Willowdale Presbyterian Church 38 Ellerslie Ave. (just north of Mel Lastman Square). Monday evenings 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Contact ntcband@ gmail.com. ● Recollectiv. For anyone living with cognitive challenges from Alzheimer’s, dementia, traumatic brain injury, stroke or PTSD. The group meets weekly to rediscover the joy of making music. Community members and music students are welcome to this fun, rewarding and inter-generational experience. Sessions take place from 2 to 3pm (with sound checks and socializing at 1:30pm). Please contact recollectiv@gmail.com for more information. SUMMER’S MORE FUN WHEN YOU’RE MAKING MUSIC! NORTH YORK 2777 Steeles Ave W 416-514-1109 SCARBOROUGH 863 Milner Ave 416-439-3100 DANFORTH 3313 Danforth Ave 416 309-8723 PRIVATE AND GROUP INSTRUCTION IN A WIDE VARIETY OF INSTRUMENTS including acoustic & electric guitar, piano, drums, vocals, orchestral strings, brass, woodwinds and so much more! thewholenote.com June, July & August2024 | 55
